Our hearts are heavy following the death of Election Commissioner Carolyn Sue Edwards Knowles who died Mother’s Day and on her May 14th birthday at UMMC. A beautiful tribute and column in last week’s paper outlined her many accomplishments and investments in our county, district, and state. She was a first-class public servant who dedicated her life to serving others with a special emphasis on educating our youth. Her love for God, family, church, students, sisters, and the entire community is her legacy. She will be missed! A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 27 at her home church, Concord M. B. Church, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation is Friday, May 26th from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at W. F. Mapp Funeral Home. Please keep her family, especially her children and grandchildren in your prayers.
We are sorry to learn of the May 17th transition of Mr. George Edward Collins, widower of Mrs. Leona Collins, and Korean War Veteran. His Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at Union Grove M. B. Church May 27th at 2:00 p.m. Visitation is Friday, May 26th at Mapp Funeral Home. Our prayers are with his family especially his daughters Georgia Lewis, Patricia Benton, and Teresa Seaberry. Mapp Funeral Home has been entrusted with his final arrangements.
We are sorry to learn of the May 11th death of Mr. Emmitt Melvin, husband of Mrs. Willie Ruth Melvin, whose Celebration of Life was held at Little Rock M. B. Church with Pastor Sheldon Thomas officiating and delivering his eulogy. Mrs. JoAnn Pheal was the mistress of ceremony and other program participants were Revs. Melvin Lyles and Jessie Sanders, and Mrs. Janet Williams. Please keep his family in your prayers especially his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Willie Ruth Melvin, and their children, Michael Melvin, Charles (Adora) Lewis, Mae (Michael) Mason, Lisa (John) Jackson, and grandchildren. Mapp Funeral Home was entrusted with final arrangements.
Our prayers are with the daughters and other family members of Mrs. Alma Bates, widow of George Bates, Jr., who passed May 16th. Her Memorial Service was held May 20th at Wolf Funeral Home in Morton. She was a kind, caring and good person. Please keep her family especially her daughters, Arlene Monk and Cynthia Wicker, and grandchildren, in your prayers.
Our prayers are with Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes and children following the death of Senior Hinds County Court Judge LaRita Cooper- Stokes. A beautiful Memorial Celebration was held Saturday, May 20th at New Hope M. B. Church in Jackson. Please keep her family in your prayers.
Please remember the family of the late Judge Thomas Broome, Rankin County Youth Court Judge for 20 years, who died May 21st. We worked with him for many years and consider him to be one of the best Youth Court Judges in our region. Special prayers for his wife Paula and their children.
We join others in celebrating the life and legacy of Cleveland Browns powerhouse fullback football great, James Nathaniel “Jim” Brown, who died May 18th. He was a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and was often called the greatest football player of his time. Brown gave up the game in the 1960s and declared himself a “highly paid, over-glamorized gladiator,” and turned to acting and social activism. Our prayers are with his family.
We continue to remember our readers and supporters who are experiencing health challenges, namely, former President James Earl (Jimmy) Carter, Rubin Ruiz, LaToya McClendon, Bonnie Russell Hodge, Don Bell, Gail Lee, Kenard Bowie, Jr., Rhonda Carter, Glenda Viverette, Drexella Ward, Billy Hughes, Bryce Pittman, Bobbie Carter, Rhonda Carter, Connie Lewis Williams, Mary Bobbitt, Rev. Floyd McConnell, John “Butch” Wilson, Dianne Cox, Thomas Anderson, Kristie Ware, William Edward, Jr., Virginia Hannah, LeReece Crimm, Lavell Stewart, Ledora Benton, Henry and Marquita Patrick, Lucy V. Moore, Kitty Colbert, Sidney Ellis, Sammie Jean Webb, Anderson “Yellow” Stingley, Dorothy Mae Patrick Tigar, London Thompson, Melba Dixon, Mitch and Mary Nichols, Lucille Flex, Laura Jackson, Roseann Lynn, Brandi Sharp, Beverly Hollingsworth, Eunice Slaughter, Viola Morgan, Jean Bates, Tomi Reed Smith, Tommy Rankin, Ruby Rhodes, Nancy Myers, and other readers who are facing health challenges.
St. Michael Catholic Church parishioners celebrated the Lord’s Ascension into heaven. Fr. Adolfo’s homily mentioned that before the Lord left us, he gave his disciples a clear mission to go and make disciples of all nations by baptizing them. We make disciples by the way we live our faith. If people see that we really practice what we preach, then they will turn to the Lord.
Lynch Chapel U. M. Church members enjoyed the Sunday message from their pastor, Rev. Shirley Wilder. Her message’s theme was “Keep the Faith.” The Scripture referenced was Hebrews 3:7-19.
Congratulations to Abundant Grace Temple of Deliverance youth who volunteered on Clean-Up Day and worked to clean and beautify their Church, namely, Justice Reed, Kearstin Gray, Monica Bogan, Chancellor Burkes, and Xavier Bobbitt. Special appreciation to adults who supervised, Shyria Finderson, Melody Reed, and Eloise Reed.
Congratulations to Hallie Millsaps who will begin a one-year internship at Lutheran Immigration Refugee Service in Baltimore. A graduate of Berea College in Kentucky, she will pursue an additional degree at the American University. She is the daughter of Kathy Parker and Willie Millsaps. Special thanks to her grandmother Mrs. Connie Parker and godfather Marlo Perry.
Congratulations to Tia Patrick, daughter of Chuck and Barbara Ormond-Patrick, who completed her Master’s in Conflict Resolution and Negotiation at Columbia University. She is the first HBCU Columbia Fellow in Tougaloo College’s history. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Tougaloo.
Congratulations to Constance Slaughter-Harvey who received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from her alma mater, Tougaloo College during Commencement May 11th. Her grandson, James “Tre” Burwell escorted her. Other recipients were Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and Dr. L. C. Dorsey posthumously.
MHV Cluster Club members attended the MHV Capital Area Spring Meeting on April 25th at the Scott County Extension Office. Program participants were Mesdames Frisky Roland, Mary Ferguson, Faye Alderman, Lucy Lane, guest speaker Dr. Brad Thompson of Southern Eye Care Clinic, Heather Hayman. Lillian Edney, Sylvia Clark, Teresa Hand, Elcena Quince, and Natasha Haynes. Breakfast and lunch snacks were served, and door prizes were also available. Cluster Club members attending were Mesdames Carolyn Macon, Connie Wash, Esther Perry, Mary Lofton, Dorothy Strong, Desiree Bradford and Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton. Thanks to everyone for this great program and the Scott County hospitality!
The Scott MHV Leader Training will be held May 30th at 1:30 at the Extension Office. The speaker will be Karen Ingle, Scott County Gardener Creative Garden Art. Cluster Club will oversee devotion. There be no Leader Training in June.
Our readers are invited to join members of the Scott County District Missionary Baptist Association, though their Moderator Rev. Charles Bell, to join them in honoring and celebrating their oldest active member, Mrs. Lucille Patrick. The Celebration will be held on Sunday, May 28th at 5:00 p.m. at the District Building located at 2557 Highway 80 West in Morton. Women’s color is white, and men’s attire is black suits and white shirts. Love offerings and gifts are welcomed.
Happy Birthday greetings to babies born during May 25 through May 31, namely, as Johnny Rushing and Donovan Thomas (28), Akil Rankin (29), Lavonshae Spivey, Emma Pace, Rubin Brown, and Demetric Mitchell (30), and Diana Moore and Rita Parker Johnson (31).
Answer to Quiz Teaser #721: The late Mrs. Carolyn E. Knowles served the county as Election Commissioner and as a schoolteacher for more than 35 years.
Quiz Teaser #722: Which African American elected official is retiring after having served this county for more than 20 years?
